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subversive_augury's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the greatest collections of short stories of all time.
Este libro de cuentos reluce entre la literatura del siglo 20 y lo considero como uno de mis libros favoritos.
Este libro de cuentos reluce entre la literatura del siglo 20 y lo considero como uno de mis libros favoritos.
poloniumblood's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
carolin_wendt's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the idea though the execution was a little off. Perhaps something got lost in translation from Spanish.
derotanim's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sidharthvardhan's review
5.0
Love the Way you Lie
Imagine what a nerd Barney Stinson would look like – because that is what Borges is like. He will tell you the most obvious tall tales pretending that they are real -wanting you to believe in them just because they are fantastic. The difference is that unlike Stinson, his tales are not about imaginary women he slept with, but rather imaginary authors, conspiracies and worlds.
Of course, he forewarns you about his tendency in prologue:
"It is a laborious madness and an impoverishing one, the madness of composing vast books—setting out in five hundred pages an idea that can be perfectly related orally in five minutes. The better way to go about it is to pretend that those books already exist, and offer a commentary upon them. A more reasonable, inept, and lazy man, I have chosen to write notes on imaginary books."
And level of brevity is so high that in a single story he explores ideas that could make four excellent books but then why in heavens name does he go so far to show it’s a work of non-fiction (‘True Story’ as Barney adds after his lies). Here are some of devices he would use to create this deceptive realism:
1. He writes as himself – as Borges, telling things as if they actually happened to author himself.
2. In one story he tells us how he came across a conspiracy theory by chance. In another couple of stories he is reviewing authors and their works (the truth:no conspiracy theory, no author, no books.)
3. An almost entire story he pretends to have quoted from a book of history (he even provides you with an editorial note from the book)
4. Then he tells us he derived one of his stories from author he is reviewing. (Truth: Story is real and written by Borges and not by imaginary author.)
Themes
1. A common theme is mixing of reality and fiction (these stories themselves are living examples):"The idea that history might have copied history is mind-boggling enough; that history should copy literature is inconceivable.”. This may be caused by different reasons in different stories including conspiracy theories, Schizophrenia etc.
‘The South’ for example looks like a very straight forward story except author points out in prologue a reading other than literal reading is possible throwing no other clues. After a bit of thought, one can see the latter half to have happened only in protagonist’s mind who was suffering from mental illness after injuring himself in a rush of excitement. Why? He was too excited about his book – you need to remember you are reading Borges. Broges actually injured himself in this way.
2. ‘The Lottery in Babylon’ is an allegory on ‘chance’.
3. ‘The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim’ is an allegory on human search for god (not unlike Castle or as Borges points out ‘Parliament of Birds’).
4. ‘The Library of Babel’ is about many things – to me the most important is search for a meaning of life. Borges argues if we were to be able to have access to all kind of knowledge, we may still not hit about our salvation.
5. The cult of Pheonix is allegory on great secrecy that is build around sex. Parents and teachers won’t pass on the ultimate secret to their children rather “...A slave, a leper or a beggar could act as mystagogues. Also a child can indoctrinate another child. The act itself is trivial, momentary and requires no description. The materials are cork, wax or gum arabic. (The liturgy speaks of silt; this is also often used.) There are no temples specially dedicated to the celebration of this cult, but a ruin, a basement or hall are considered propitious sites. ” . There are ad-author arguments that homosexuality was in author’s mind but that contradicts with a lot of things in story. The very name refers to a bird being born out of its ashes, and thus clues regeneration.
6. Wasted Genuis seems to be an important theme specially in ‘Funes, His Memory “Funes the Memorious’ which might show Broges’ frustration at not being recognized. Funes sits in darkness just the way Borges went blind. (see next point for another example)
Here and there
1. Kafka is a great influence on Broges. The author is very vaguely mentioned by name as Qaphqa (a place) in ‘The Lottery in Babylon’. Many stories actually reminds one of Kafka. ‘The Secret Miracle’ is about a jewish playwright who got a secret miracle a moment before his death– the time is stopped for a year for everything except his thoughts; and thus enabling him to perfect his work in his mind. Was that Borges variation on Kafka's fate with some sort of poetic justice for later?
2. Borges predicted in a way limitations of both internet Iin Library of Babel) and computer (in ‘Irene Funes’; remembers everything, can’t think ideas).
3. The fiction going real is at root of ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, though only revealed at the end of book where a Buendía man deciphers the encryption. The secret message informed the recipient of every fortune and misfortune lived by the Buendía Family generation.
Imagine what a nerd Barney Stinson would look like – because that is what Borges is like. He will tell you the most obvious tall tales pretending that they are real -wanting you to believe in them just because they are fantastic. The difference is that unlike Stinson, his tales are not about imaginary women he slept with, but rather imaginary authors, conspiracies and worlds.
Of course, he forewarns you about his tendency in prologue:
"It is a laborious madness and an impoverishing one, the madness of composing vast books—setting out in five hundred pages an idea that can be perfectly related orally in five minutes. The better way to go about it is to pretend that those books already exist, and offer a commentary upon them. A more reasonable, inept, and lazy man, I have chosen to write notes on imaginary books."
And level of brevity is so high that in a single story he explores ideas that could make four excellent books but then why in heavens name does he go so far to show it’s a work of non-fiction (‘True Story’ as Barney adds after his lies). Here are some of devices he would use to create this deceptive realism:
1. He writes as himself – as Borges, telling things as if they actually happened to author himself.
2. In one story he tells us how he came across a conspiracy theory by chance. In another couple of stories he is reviewing authors and their works (the truth:no conspiracy theory, no author, no books.)
3. An almost entire story he pretends to have quoted from a book of history (he even provides you with an editorial note from the book)
4. Then he tells us he derived one of his stories from author he is reviewing. (Truth: Story is real and written by Borges and not by imaginary author.)
Themes
1. A common theme is mixing of reality and fiction (these stories themselves are living examples):"The idea that history might have copied history is mind-boggling enough; that history should copy literature is inconceivable.”. This may be caused by different reasons in different stories including conspiracy theories, Schizophrenia etc.
‘The South’ for example looks like a very straight forward story except author points out in prologue a reading other than literal reading is possible throwing no other clues. After a bit of thought, one can see the latter half to have happened only in protagonist’s mind who was suffering from mental illness after injuring himself in a rush of excitement. Why? He was too excited about his book – you need to remember you are reading Borges. Broges actually injured himself in this way.
2. ‘The Lottery in Babylon’ is an allegory on ‘chance’.
3. ‘The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim’ is an allegory on human search for god (not unlike Castle or as Borges points out ‘Parliament of Birds’).
4. ‘The Library of Babel’ is about many things – to me the most important is search for a meaning of life. Borges argues if we were to be able to have access to all kind of knowledge, we may still not hit about our salvation.
5. The cult of Pheonix is allegory on great secrecy that is build around sex. Parents and teachers won’t pass on the ultimate secret to their children rather “...A slave, a leper or a beggar could act as mystagogues. Also a child can indoctrinate another child. The act itself is trivial, momentary and requires no description. The materials are cork, wax or gum arabic. (The liturgy speaks of silt; this is also often used.) There are no temples specially dedicated to the celebration of this cult, but a ruin, a basement or hall are considered propitious sites. ” . There are ad-author arguments that homosexuality was in author’s mind but that contradicts with a lot of things in story. The very name refers to a bird being born out of its ashes, and thus clues regeneration.
6. Wasted Genuis seems to be an important theme specially in ‘Funes, His Memory “Funes the Memorious’ which might show Broges’ frustration at not being recognized. Funes sits in darkness just the way Borges went blind. (see next point for another example)
Here and there
1. Kafka is a great influence on Broges. The author is very vaguely mentioned by name as Qaphqa (a place) in ‘The Lottery in Babylon’. Many stories actually reminds one of Kafka. ‘The Secret Miracle’ is about a jewish playwright who got a secret miracle a moment before his death– the time is stopped for a year for everything except his thoughts; and thus enabling him to perfect his work in his mind. Was that Borges variation on Kafka's fate with some sort of poetic justice for later?
2. Borges predicted in a way limitations of both internet Iin Library of Babel) and computer (in ‘Irene Funes’; remembers everything, can’t think ideas).
3. The fiction going real is at root of ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, though only revealed at the end of book where a Buendía man deciphers the encryption. The secret message informed the recipient of every fortune and misfortune lived by the Buendía Family generation.
wintzyy's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
christa_amnell's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0